Because Atelier Rorona is actually quite good.
I've said in a few other threads that I was on the verge of giving up on that company after having been burned a few times (Cross Edge, Disgaea 3) too many.
But I picked up Cladun: This is an RPG for the PSP to give them my last benefit of the doubt (it was only $20, so it was worth taking a risk), and it was enjoyable, the small amount of it I've played.
So after much deliberation, I picked up Atelier Rorona about a month and a half ago or so, and just began playing today. I'm just starting the third assignment, and have spent probably about 11 hours on this game so far.
In one sense of the word, the entire thing is fetch quests, but on the other hand, the alchemy system is actually quite deep. It gives me a slight SoA/VC vibe, the former because it's cute and innocent and playful, and the latter because it's cel-shaded.
It's quite addicting. The main enjoyment I'm getting out of the game is the strategy involved in managing my time. You only get 3 months to do each assignment, and each synthesis and each trip to the "field" or "dungeons" to gather ingredients and battle takes a certain amount of time. On top of this, you need to synthesize materials for better armor and weapons in order to even survive newer areas where the ingredients for later assignments are. Plus, synthesizing healing items is pretty much a requirement, and in order to make enough money to do all of this, you need to take on "side quests," which involve synthesizing items as well. It sounds convoluted and not a lot of fun, but it's actually streamlined and is addicting as hell. In short, I'm really enjoying the balancing act that the game puts upon you as its main gameplay challenge.
So aside from any of those spinoff games (Cross Edge, Trinity Universe) or yet another grid-based SRPG, I'm willing to give them a few more chances.
I've said in a few other threads that I was on the verge of giving up on that company after having been burned a few times (Cross Edge, Disgaea 3) too many.
But I picked up Cladun: This is an RPG for the PSP to give them my last benefit of the doubt (it was only $20, so it was worth taking a risk), and it was enjoyable, the small amount of it I've played.
So after much deliberation, I picked up Atelier Rorona about a month and a half ago or so, and just began playing today. I'm just starting the third assignment, and have spent probably about 11 hours on this game so far.
In one sense of the word, the entire thing is fetch quests, but on the other hand, the alchemy system is actually quite deep. It gives me a slight SoA/VC vibe, the former because it's cute and innocent and playful, and the latter because it's cel-shaded.
It's quite addicting. The main enjoyment I'm getting out of the game is the strategy involved in managing my time. You only get 3 months to do each assignment, and each synthesis and each trip to the "field" or "dungeons" to gather ingredients and battle takes a certain amount of time. On top of this, you need to synthesize materials for better armor and weapons in order to even survive newer areas where the ingredients for later assignments are. Plus, synthesizing healing items is pretty much a requirement, and in order to make enough money to do all of this, you need to take on "side quests," which involve synthesizing items as well. It sounds convoluted and not a lot of fun, but it's actually streamlined and is addicting as hell. In short, I'm really enjoying the balancing act that the game puts upon you as its main gameplay challenge.
So aside from any of those spinoff games (Cross Edge, Trinity Universe) or yet another grid-based SRPG, I'm willing to give them a few more chances.
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